At least 10 illegal miners were arrested on Saturday morning in Uyanga Forest, located in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The arrests were carried out by the Cross River State Anti-Illegal Mining Committee and Taskforce, led by its chairman, Paul Effiong.
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According to the taskforce, the suspects failed to provide valid mining licenses or prove that they were operating within approved coordinates. As a result, they were handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
The taskforce also confiscated mining equipment found at the scene.
Speaking after the operation, Effiong reiterated the state government’s zero tolerance for illegal mining and vowed that enforcement efforts would continue across the state.
“We are undeterred by the intimidation and interference from big masquerades backing these illegal activities,” he said.
The operation is part of the Cross River State government’s broader strategy to curb environmental degradation and clamp down on the unregulated exploitation of the state’s mineral resources.
“It Was Like Being in Prison” – Kemi Badenoch Recalls Harsh Experience at Nigerian Boarding School
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has reflected on her difficult experience attending a federal government girls’ secondary school in Nigeria, describing the environment as harsh and likening it to being in prison.
Speaking during a podcast interview with British broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, Badenoch recounted her time at a federal boarding school located in Shagamu, Ogun State, where she lived under demanding conditions as a teenager.
